Big Squid RC » electronics

What could be Cooler than an RC COOLER?

Manny — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:56:01 +0000

I couldn’t help but think “Why didn’t I think of that?” when I saw this extremely practical gadget from Hammacher Schlemmer. Although not huge by any means but what an awesome concept for the RC/Cold Beverage lover in all of us? Stats say the RC COOLER will hold a dozen cans or bottles plus ice, but I am thinking probably less so you can keep things extra cool. It will apparently tote around 22lbs of your chilled libation of choice and will conveniently collapse down to 6 1/2 inches tall when not in use. This just gets the rusty cogs turning…. what else can we make RC??

RCX 2012 – Novak Electronics

Jeff — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:15:44 +0000

What a couple of pleasant looking fellows, eh? We stopped by the Novak booth to take a look at their newly announced Impact brushless ESC. You can read the announcement here. While the Impact was billed in the announcement as a small ESC, we were kinda surprised at just how small it is. Tiny would be a more appropriate word. We also got a chance to look at their still relatively new Activ8 ESC for 1/8 scale brushless buggies and truggies. It’s not so tiny. But both have plenty of great features. Check out the pics below, then head on over to the Novak web site for more info.

New Tamiya Releases

Robin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:50:55 +0000

To be unveiled at the Nuremburg toy fair in a matter of hours, Tamiya have got a whole host of new vehicles to keep with current trends on the market. Theres the usual pile of updated re-releases, a couple of limited edition kits and a heap of new hopups. Here are some noteworthy releases.

1/12 Nissan Titan
a DT-02 2wd chassis is a good chassis for beginners. Tamiya is obviously making an effort to keep up with more recent trends, as suggested by the CORR truck shell. This kit includes an ESC and motor, and is simple to build being only 2wd, but features oil filled shocks and a lexan shell. Get it fast and you’ll get a free set of ball bearings too!

1/10 Mini JCW Coupe
For a long time, tamiya’s M-chassis has dominated the racing class, and it’s nice to see yet another kit with a fresh face. The mini coupe is a replica of the race car, and all the neccessary items to re-create the bodywork are included in the kit. You can get a set of matte gold wheels with it for free if you get your hands one one quickly.

1/10 Toyota Bruiser
Some things are too good to let die. With locking differentials and a 3-speed manual transmission, it’s no wonder Tamiya’s Toyota Bruiser is popular with the scale crawler enthusiasts. Whilst it may look almost identical to the 80′s classic, this 2012 re-release has been further refined and tweaked to create a work of art.

1/10 XB Blackfoot III
Available as a ready to run for the first time, the Tamiya Blackfoot III is a classic RC that every basher should own at some point in their lives. With it you get Tamiya’s new Finespec antenna-less 2.4ghz radio system and a TEU-105BK ESC. Add a battery pack and you’ve got a perfect yard basher for lazy weekends, and a shelf queen to stare at and dream for weekday mornings.

These are just a few picks off of the huge list of new Tamiya releases for this year’s Nuremberg Toy Fair, so keep an eye out for all of the limited edition releases!

Schumacher Mi4CXL

Robin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:35:30 +0000

Even more advanced that its predecessor, Schumacher’s Mi4CXL aims to be race winning and class leading. Durability has been improved over the Mi3 by using a tough Nickel-Teflon played shock bodies, an ultra lightweight front diff, and enlarged drive pins all around. A new sway-bar system keeps the “Soft Weave” carbon fibre chassis level, and many new 7075 aluminium parts keep overall weight incredibly low.

We’re only scratching the surface here. Check out the full list of specs on the Schumacher website!

KO Propo EX-1 K.I.Y. Transmitter

Robin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:15:29 +0000

KO Propo announced the release of their new “Kustomize It Yourself” EX-1 transmitter earlier today. Apart from the cool folding screen, it looks like any other transmitter… until you see the stick steering. A 3-part modular construction means that the transmitter is portable and very lightweight, as well as being ectremely adaptable to the preferences of the user. Very little information on the software is available at this time, but expect a future update when the transmitter is put on sale.

Keep an eye on the Ko Propo website for details!

Xtreme Racing Charger Stands

Robin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:29:01 +0000

Xtreme Racing have got some new charger stands to help your charger keep it’s cool when charging. have one on your workbench and keep an eye on your battery with ease – no more squinting to read those tiny screens! They come in several sizes, colours and even materials, so they’ll suit anyones taste, and starting at $17.99, they’ll suit anyones budget too!

Check out the Xtreme Racing website to see the full range available.

Team Durango DEX408

Robin — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:32:35 +0000

Team Durango have at last unveiled the DEX408, after having teased us for many weeks. It’s packed with features, most of which are to be found on the nitro version too, such as easy-access diffs and a slimline design. The plastics are all light weight composites, and all the shiny bits are CNC machined aluminum, further aiding the already excellent weight distribution. As well as fantastic chassis design, you will also find a Team Durango hallmark in the form of a ~~sexy~~ sleek sculpted shell and low profile wing.

We’re just scratching the surface here, so head over to the Team Durango website for full details!

Kyosho DBX VE 2.0 1/8 Buggy

Robin — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:54:13 +0000

Kyosho have revised their DBX VE 1/8 Buggy to keep up with current styles. In the DBX VE 2.0 you will find an Orion Vortex 10 motor and an all new 3s Li-Po capable RV10 EVO ESC, a slick new FHSS 2.4GHZ radio, and durable bash-proof parts such as big bore shocks and an aluminum motor mount. To top it all off, you get an awesome looking pre-painted forward cab shell and two sets of different colored decals!

Head over to the Kyosho Website for full specs.

Futaba High Voltage Servos

Robin — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:59:45 +0000

Futaba have released three new High Voltage servos, of which two should be of interest to the car and truck guys. The new S9352HV and S9353HV servos both have the same s/0.06 speed and humungous 306 oz/in torque, but the difference is the S9353HV boasts a full metal case for extra durability. The BLS256HV servo is intended for helicopter rudder use, as it significantly lighter in weight and faster, but lacks the torque to turn tires on the ground. All of these servos are protected against water, and are all available for immediate purchase!

Head over to the Futaba Website for the full spec of these servos

Castle Creations CapPack

Robin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 03:40:46 +0000

This cool little device from Castle Creations called the “CapPack” is designed for use in high powered electric vehicles, where batteries may suffer from voltage drop under severe load – this capacitor bank will give you that bit of extra go under accelleration. At $24.95, it costs a whole lot less than a new battery pack!

Head over to the Castle Website for full details.